Written by Gina Burk
Local collaborations focus on building a system with a “triple-bottom line” measure of social, economic and environmental impact in an industry affecting approximately 16 percent of the national and regional economy, according to government statistics.
Kids these days face a lot. There are multitudes of kids with different issues, and the proper care isn’t always easy to find.
Where do kids with special needs and behavior issues go to get the help they need to stay in school?
The Akron area YMCA’s Phoenix Alternative School provides a place where troubled youth, grades 4-12th, can receive close attention, getting them back on track and into their school systems quickly.
“The focus is on behavior management,” Tony Grimes, East Akron YMCA, Executive Director, said of the program.
The average student stays for 6 months, about a semester long, before returning to their public school.
“Gardening is cheaper than therapy… and I might even get tomatoes.”
“Gardening requires lots of water…most of it in the form of perspiration.”
“Why try to explain miracles to your kids when you can just have them plant a garden here this summer?”
These are just a few of the things I heard in my community garden over opening weekend. It told me a lot about the people involved and the expectations of what the new Glendale Community Garden means to this community.